Media cassette for self-service terminal

Abstract

A media cassette ( 10 ) for a self-service terminal (SST) comprises a body ( 20 ) for receiving media to be dispensed in the form of a bundle of media ( 12 ) having end faces and side faces. At least one movable guide member ( 16, 17, 18, 19 ) is provided for locating the media within the body ( 20 ) and for engaging a respective side face of the media bundle ( 12 ). The guide member ( 16, 17, 18, 19 ) is urged towards the respective side face of the media bundle ( 12 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A media cassette for a self-service terminal, the cassette comprising: 
       a cassette body for receiving media to be dispensed from the cassette, the received media collectively comprising media having at least two side edges, in a bundle having at least two end faces;  
       a movable first width guide member for locating the media within the body and for engaging a respective first side edge of the media in said bundle by moving towards said first side edge in order to hold the media bundle in a secure position; and  
       a second width guide member for locating the media within the body and for engaging a respective second side edge of the media in said bundle; and  
       means for urging the movable first width guide member towards said first side edge of the media in said bundle when the cassette is outside of the terminal; and  
       means for urging the movable first width guide member to a position away from said first side edge of the media bundle when the cassette is inserted within the terminal, in order to provide a working clearance to allow dispensing of the media.  
     
     
       2. A cassette of  claim 1 , wherein said second width guide member is movable. 
     
     
       3. A cassette of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second movable width guide members are operatively associated such that a transverse movement of one width guide member produces a corresponding and opposite movement of the other width guide member. 
     
     
       4. A cassette of  claim 1 , including a height guide member for engaging an upper end face of the media bundle. 
     
     
       5. A cassette of  claim 4 , further comprising a lid which is securable to the body and to which the height guide member is mounted. 
     
     
       6. A cassette of  claim 5 , wherein the first movable width guide member is selectively lockable in position. 
     
     
       7. A cassette of  claim 6 , wherein the first movable width guide member is automatically locked in position on fitting the lid on the body. 
     
     
       8. A method of locating media in a cassette for storing media to be dispensed from a self-service terminal, the method comprising: 
       positioning a bundle of media in a body for receiving media to be dispensed; and  
       urging a movable first width guide member towards a respective side edge of the media bundle to locate the bundle within the body, said movable first width guide member being retractable to a position away from the side edge of the media in said bundle upon insertion of the cassette into the self-service terminal in order to provide a working clearance to allow dispensing of the media, and said cassette having a second width guide member for locating the media within the body and for engaging a respective second side edge of the media in said bundle.  
     
     
       9. A media cassette for a self-service terminal, the cassette comprising: 
       a cassette body for receiving media to be dispensed and defining an area to receive a bundle of media, said bundle having at least two end faces; and  
       a movable first height guide member mounted to the body and movable between a first position in which the movable first height guide member engages one of said end faces and thereby restricts the length of the media-receiving area to a first dimension which corresponds to a predetermined maximum allowable length of a media bundle during filling of the body and a second position achieved after completion of filling of the cassette in which the movable first height guide member permits the length of the media-receiving area to be extended to a second dimension greater than the predetermined maximum length of the media bundle to permit longitudinal expansion of a media bundle therein, said cassette having a second height guide member mounted to the body for locating the media within the body and for engaging a respective second end face of the media in said bundle, movement of the movable first height guide member to the second position serving to decrease pressure exerted by the movable first height guide member on said end face of the media bundle.  
     
     
       10. A cassette of  claim 9 , further comprising a lid which can be located on the body, the member being retractable automatically when the lid is located on the body. 
     
     
       11. A method of controlling the filling of a media cassette with a media bundle for a self-service terminal, the method comprising: 
       providing a body defining an area for receiving a bundle of media, said bundle having at least two end faces;  
       locating a movable first height guide member in the body to engage one of said end faces and thereby restrict a length of the area to a predetermined first dimension corresponding to a predetermined maximum allowable length of media bundle said cassette having a second height guide member mounted to the body for locating the media within the body and for-engaging a respective second end face of the media in said bundle;  
       locating said bundle of media in the area; and  
       after locating the bundle of media in the area, retracting the movable first height guide member to extend the length of the area to a second dimension larger than the predetermined maximum allowable length of media bundle to reduce pressure exerted by the movable first height guide member on said end face of the media bundle and to permit longitudinal expansion of the media bundle in the area.  
     
     
       12. An automated teller machine (ATM) comprising: 
       a banknote cassette including (i) a cassette body for receiving banknotes to be dispensed in form of media having at least two side edges, in a bundle of banknotes having at least two end faces, (ii) a movable first width guide member for locating the banknotes within the body and for engaging a respective first side edge of the media in said banknote bundle, (iii) a second width guide member for locating the banknotes within the body and for engaging a respective second side edge of the media in said banknote bundle, (iv) means for urging the movable first width guide member towards said first side edge of the media in said banknote bundle when the cassette is outside of the terminal, and (v) means for urging the movable first width guide member to a position away from the media in said banknote bundle when the cassette is inserted within the terminal, in order to provide a working clearance to allow dispensing of the banknotes; and  
       a picker mechanism for picking banknotes from the banknote cassette for dispensing the picked banknotes to an ATM customer.  
     
     
       13. An ATM of  claim 12 , wherein the second width guide member is movable. 
     
     
       14. An ATM of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second movable width guide members are operatively associated such that a transverse movement of one movable width guide member produces a corresponding and opposite movement of the other movable width guide member. 
     
     
       15. An ATM of  claim 12 , including a height guide member for engaging an upper end face of the banknote bundle. 
     
     
       16. An ATM of  claim 15 , further comprising a lid which is securable to the body and to which the height guide member is mounted. 
     
     
       17. An ATM of  claim 16 , wherein the first movable width guide member is selectively lockable in position. 
     
     
       18. An ATM of  claim 17 , wherein the first movable width guide member is automatically locked in position on fitting the lid on the body.